As British resident Shaker Aamer marks 11 years in Guantanamo Bay, Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas has tabled amendments to the government’s proposed Justice and Security Bill aiming to increase the accountability of the security services.

It is eleven years today since Shaker Aamer was taken to Guantanamo Bay.

Despite having been cleared for release under both the Bush and Obama administrations, he remains imprisoned - and has never met his youngest son, who today will celebrate his eleventh birthday.

Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion today joined with European Greens in  highlighting the lack of ambition in EU carbon emissions targets.

Commenting on the EC’s clean energy package announced today, Caroline Lucas said:

“The EU is showing a disappointing lack of ambition.  We should be aiming for a 60% carbon reduction target by 2030 at the very minimum, with a target of 45% of our energy from renewable sources.  

A local bid to raise £300,000 to save a popular Victorian community hall has been launched – with Caroline Lucas MP buying the first share in the project.

Exeter Street Hall in Brighton, owned by St Luke’s Church, has been at the heart of the Prestonville community for over 130 years, but after falling into disrepair, the church announced last year that it would be put up for sale.

Several disturbing cases involving the extradition of UK citizens to the United States have exposed a serious bias and injustice embedded in our extradition agreement with the US.

I have been doing all I can to bring attention to this issue – asking questions in Parliament, taking part in debates and speaking out in the media.

In particular, I've highlighted the case of Babar Ahmad, a British citizen held without charge or trial for eight years and now threatened with extradition to the US.

On the breaking news that Baroness Elizabeth Butler Sloss has stepped down as chair of the inquiry into allegations of child abuse involving Westminster and Whitehall, Caroline Lucas MP said: 

"Her decision is the right one and I welcome it. That the Government ever placed her into this position demonstrates a significant lack of judgement on its part and lack of regard for those survivors at the centre of this crucial inquiry.

Caroline helps secure debate on VAT on tourism

Caroline Lucas has helped secure an opportunity to put the case for Brighton’s tourism industry direct to the Treasury.  A parliamentary committee has approved an application from Caroline and two other backbench MPs for a debate on cutting VAT on tourism to 5%.

The debate will take place in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 11 February from 9:30am to 11:00am.

Caroline said: 

The ‘March for England’ does huge damage to Brighton & Hove’s local traders and businesses and the disruption impacts on local residents, as well as the city's tourist visitors.  Many local people object to the event’s associations, and as a consequence participate in the large counter-protest.

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion said:

“The EDL march has been told it’s not welcome in our city. Sadly, they are determined to come.

A national campaign for a charge on single use plastic bags will hit Brighton tomorrow in the shape of a Bag Monster at the Lush store on East Street.

Local MP Caroline Lucas will join the Bag Monster – dressed in a costume created from over 100 plastic bags - and staff at Lush Brighton, to highlight the results of a high street survey conducted by the store.

The majority of participants in the survey - over 70% - supported the introduction of a 5p charge on single use carrier bags.

Environmental groups and businesses are hailing the strength of the South East’s green economy as a new report shows signs of success despite the economic downturn.

The report, Green Economy: A UK Success Story, published today by the Green Alliance along with RSPB, WWF, Greenpeace and Christian Aid, reveals that the sector has shown recession resilience.

While the general economy will only return to 2007 levels by 2014 at the earliest, the green economy will have grown by 40% in that same period.

It will mean that work to modernise the hospital can start in the coming months. Those leading the project believe it could be complete by 2024.

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion said: